A small 'link building' - connecting the Burton's factory and the brick warehouse - is also planned for the site.

Bosses want it to be a "continuation of the street", and they would like it to act as a common entrance to both buildings/a form of social space.

Brick warehouse - a new physical theatre facility

Based on other major projects such as Spike Island in Bristol, Waters Edge at Dundee and the Ideas Factory at NUA in Norwich, bosses envision the brick warehouse will be transformed into a creation space where Gecko Theatre can run a physical theatre facility - the only one of its kind in the country.

"The facility will provide a centre of excellence for arts professionals interested in making Ipswich home for their innovative, creative practices, especially in the field of physical theatre," council chiefs wrote in the planning application.

Steve Allman, head of operations and development at the theatre, said the organisation hopes to develop a new Masters degree in physical theatre as part of the project, in collaboration with the University of Suffolk.

'Revolutionary for Ipswich'

Artistic director Amit Lahav added: "The creation space will be revolutionary for Ipswich, Gecko and for artist-led devising theatre companies across the country.

"It will attract interest from across the UK and bring the world to Ipswich as companies look to use these facilities to create and devise their own productions.

"It opens up the possibility of Gecko working with some of the leading production companies across the UK in exciting and new ways, as well and providing us with the opportunity to expand our work with local schools, community groups and our cultural partners in Ipswich such as DanceEast, New Wolsey and the other members of We Are Ipswich."

What happens now?

Ipswich Borough Council, which has submitted the application, will now have to wait until it is seen by planners.

An eight-week target date has been set for September 27, 2019, and the committee will aim to look at the proposals by then.

If approved, it would see the biggest transformation of the site in several decades.

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